Control arms for electronic, electrical and other instruments



June 9, 1964 G. A. BAGULEY 3,136,176

CONTROL ARMS FOR ELECTRONIC, ELECTRICAL AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS FiledApril 13, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor George Baguzey m q wzam Attornew June 9, 1964 G. A. BAGULEY 3,136,176

CONTROL ARMS FOR ELECTRONIC, ELECTRICAL AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS FiledApril 15, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 uuulrlnfirumuuwg lnuenlar Q00 m,:; A,bay/(6y EFL 7 he v IL ATtorneyo June 9, 1964 (5. Av BAGULEY 3,136,176

CONTROL ARMS FOR ELECTRONIC, ELECTRICAL AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS FiledApril 13, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent 3,136,176 CENTRGLARMS FOR ELECTRONIC, ELEC- TRICAL AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS George Arthur-Baguiey, Royston, England, assignor to Painton & Company Limited,Kingsthorpe, England, a

British company Filed Apr. 13, 1961, Ser. No. M2351 Claims priority,application Great Britain Apr. 14, 1960 13 Claims. (Cl. 74-48(9) Thisinvention concerns improvements in or relating to control members orarms for electronic, electrical and other instruments andinstrumentalities and particularly instruments of the kind which areeach provided with a control member movable relatively to theinstrument. Such instruments or devices may be furnished with anoperating knob or handle (hereinafter called a knob) traveling over ascale arranged either along an arcuate or a rectilinear path.Instruments of this kind are frequently arranged side by side in groupsor gangs. This is especially the case with electronic and electricalinstruments such, for example, as those used for controlling sound andvision signals in connection with broadcast transmissions. Thus, forexample, it is quite usual to arrange side by side on a control desk orpanel, a series of similar quadrant-shaped faders or attenuators havingcontrol members in the form of arms extending in the general directiontowards the operator or controller and usually each fader or attenuatorcontrols a separate circuit.

There are occasions when it would be advantageous for two or morecontrol arms of a group or gang of such instruments to be interlocked soas to move as one whilst yet being independently operable when required.It is therefore an object of this invention to provide means whereby twoor more adjacent control members or arms in a grouped or ganged set ofinstruments, such as faders or attenuators, for example, can be quicklyinterlocked together or equally rapidly released from one another.

According to one aspect of the present invention, therefore, there isprovided means for selectively interlocking a set of electrical orelectronic instruments, each having a movable control member, such meansincluding an interlocking element which is adapted to be mounted on thecontrol member of one instrument of the set so as to be movablerelatively thereto, into and out of engagement with the control memberof another instrument of the set and which, when so engaged, serves tointerlock the two control members for joint movement.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided anassembly comprising a set of electrical or electronic instruments, eachhaving a movable control member, and an interlocking element movablymounted on the control member of at least one instrument of the set, thesaid element being movable into and out of engagement with the controlmember of another instrument of the set whereby the control members ofthe two instruments can be selectively interlocked for joint movement.

The invention is particularly applicable to interlocking means forinstruments having control members in the form of pivotable arms and inthis case the interlocking member may be mounted for movement relativelyto the control member of the said one instrument in a radial directionrelatively to the pivotal axis thereof.

The invention makes it possible to provide for the selectiveinterlocking for movement in unison, of adjacent control arms or othermovable control members of similar grouped or ganged electronic,electrical or like instruments, the interconnecting element beingadapted to bridge and interlock together adjacent control members andbeing so constructed that it may be moved to or from 3,13%,176 PatentedJune 9, 1964 its connecting position simply and rapidly with equalfacility. By sliding the interconnecting element in one direction withrespect to the control member by which it is carried, this controlmember may readily and rapidly be locked to the control member of anadjacent instrument, whilst, by movement of the interconnecting elementin the opposite direction, the control members may quickly and easily bedisconnected from one another. 2

It will be appreciated that any number of control memhere may bearranged for interlocking with one another, and that, when the controlmembers are interlocked, they operate as one.

In order that the nature of the invention may be more readilyunderstood, two embodiments of the same will now be described by way ofexample with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side vieW of part of a set of ganged instruments providedwith interlocking means inaccordance with the invention, theinterlocking means being in its inoperative state;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing the interlockingmeans in its operative state;

FIGURE 3 is an end view of the arrangement, as viewed from the right inFIGURE 2;

FIGURES 4 and 5 are exploded perspective views showing various componentparts of the arrangement as seen from the left and from the rightrespectively, in FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a detail;

FIGURE 7 is a view corresponding to FIGURE 1 but showing anotherarrangement of ganged instruments provided with interlocking means inaccordance with the invention; and

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary end view of the arrangement shown in FIGURE 7.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 to 3 of the drawings, there are shown threeso-called edgewise miniature fader units 1 such as are used inconnection with the control of sound and television broadcasttransmissions. Each fader 1 has a control member or arm 2, the variouscontrol arms 2 being mounted to pivot about a common axis 3 relativelyto curved scales 4. Each control arm 2 is provided at its outer end withan operating or control knob 5, 6 or 7, the knobs moving in arcuatepaths and following the curvature of the scales 40f the instruments 1.Each control knob 5, 6 or 7 carries a depending guide tongue. Thus theknob 7 carries a tongue 8 bearing against the end wall 9 of thecorresponding instrument 1, so as to guide the knob 7 during its arcuatemovement.

The instruments 1 are narrow in the direction of the common pivotal axis3 of the control arms 2 and, in practice, they are frequently not inexcess of wide so that a plurality of these edgewise miniature fadersmay be arranged in a relatively small space side by side in a group organg.

The control knobs 5, 6 and 7 are moulded from synthetic resin plasticmaterial and one lateral side of each control knob, such as the knob 5,has a groove or channel 11 (FIG. 5) of which the longitudinal walls 12and 13 converge towards one another in a direction towards the axis ofrotation 3 so that, in end elevation, the groove 11 is of outwardlydivergent form, the walls 12 and 13 thus constituting sighting wings tofacilitate reading of the scale over which the knob operates and toreduce parallax. Preferably the sighting wings 12 and 13 progressivelyincrease in width from their outer to their inner ends.

On the lateral side of the control knob 5 opposite to that furnishedwith the channel 11 is slidably mounted an interconnecting element 14for interlocking this control knob with the control knob 6 of thecontrol arm of the next instrument in the group or gang. Theinterconnecting element 14 is mounted on a carrier element 15 which isin the form of a synthetic resin moulding conforming in side contour tothat of the side of the control knob to which it is fitted. The elementhas two locating pins 16 and 17 projecting from one side thereof forengagement in correspondingly located holes 18 and 119 in the controlknob 5 to which it is fitted.

The element 14 is secured to the control knob 5 by means of a member 2%having a screw-threaded portion 2i engaging in a threaded hole in themember 8. Beyond the screw-threaded portion 21 the member 2% has collars23 and 24 of different diameters. The collar 24 seats in a counter-boredportion 25 of a hole 26 formed in the element 15 while the collar 23projects into the smaller diameter portion of the hole 26. The collar 24is slotted at 27 to facilitate rotation of the member 24) for thepurpose of engaging the screw-threaded portion 21 in the above-mentionedthreaded hole in the part of the member 8 which is within the knob 5.

The portion 23 of the member provides a guide pin upon which there ismounted the interconnecting element 14. The guide pin or portion 28engages in a slot 29 which extends radially of the axis of rotation 3 ofthe control arm 2. Thus the element 14 can slide in a direction towardsand away from the axis of rotation 3. Like the control knobs S, 6 and '7and carrier element 15, the element 14 is also conveniently formed as asynthetic resin moulding, the outline shape of which, as viewed from anend face thereof, conforms with that of the control knobs and of thecarrier element. The interconnecting element 14 is retained in positionon the guide pin 28 by means of a washer 32 and a circlip 33. Thecirclip 33 is engaged in a slot 4-2 in the guide pin 23 and it is notuniplanar but is arcuate in cross-section so as to exert resilient axialpressure on the washer 32.

The carrier element 15 is formed with two bosses 34 and 35 each of whichengages in a corresponding elongated hole 36 or 37 formed in theinterconnecting element 14. Each opening 36 or 3'7 is shaped to providetwo recesses or depressions such as 38 and 3% (FIGURE 6) into either ofwhich the boss 34 can snap during sliding movement of the element 14relatively to the element 15, so as to lock the interconnecting element14 in either of its two end positions relatively to the carrier element15. It will, of course, be understood that other arrangements canreadily be devised for locking and unlocking V the interconnectingelement.

The assembly consisting of the interconnecting element lid and thecarrier element 15 is of such dimensions that, when the assembly ismounted on the control knob 5, it almost fills the gap between the twoaligned control knobs 5 and 6. In order to enable two such adjacentcontrol knobs to be interlocked together, the interconnecting element 14has, on the lateral side thereof remote from the control knob 5,aprojecting rib or keyportion A which is adapted to mate closely in thelongitudinal groove or channel 41 provided in the opposed lateral sideof the control knob 6. This rib or key-portion 5 h can be disengagedfrom the channel 41 of the knob 6, as shown in FIGURE 1, or engagedtherein as shown in FIGURE 2, merely by sliding the interconnectingelement 14- radially outwards or inwards respectively relatively to thesupporting guide pin 28. Since the interconnecting element 14 iscomplementary in shape with the control knobs 5 and 6 between which itis mounted, it conforms to the outline of the latter when in itsinterlocking position.

it will be appreciated that the arrangement described permits the readyinterconnection of the adjacent control arms of the ganged instruments 1while nevertheless allowing individual instruments to be readily removedfrom or replaced in the assembly of instruments in the case of a faultoccurring.

The invention is not limited to its application to the interlocking ofinstruments having pivotable control arms but it can equally well beapplied to the interlocking of instruments, the control members of whichare mounted for parallel rectilinear sliding movement relatively torectilinear scales.

Thus FIGURES 7 and 8 show an arrangement of ganged instruments 51 havingcontrol members 52 mounted for parallel rectilinear sliding movementalong rods such as 53, relatively to rectilinear scales 54. Each controlmember 52 has an operating or control knob 55, 56 or 57 similar to theknobs 5, 6 and '7 described with reference to FIGURES 1 to 6. As shownin FIGURE 7, the knobs have mounted thereon mounting elements 58 and 59carrying interlocking elements 60 and 61. In FIGURE 7, the interlockingelement 60 is shown in its operative position while the interlockingelement 61 is shown in its inoperative position. In this case, thekeyportion 62 of the element 61 is disengaged from the keyway or channelof the knob 57. Such a channel is clearly shown in FIGURE 8 at 63 in thecase of the knob 55, and serves also to facilitate reading of thecorresponding scale 54.

The mounting elements 58 and 59 and interlocking elements 6% and 61 areof similar construction to the corresponding elements shown in FIGURES 1to 6 and are mounted in a similar manner on the knob 55 and 56.

I claim:

1. Means for selectively interlocking two movable control members whichare mounted for side-by-side adjusting movement, comprising aninterlocking element mounted on one of said control members for movementthereon in a direction intersecting the direction of adjusting movementthereof and interlocking element receiving means on the other of saidcontrol members, said interlocking element being engageable with anddisengageable from said receiving means by movement on one of saidcontrol members, whereby said control members can be moved eitherjointly in interlocked relationship or independently.

2. Interlocking means according to claim 1, in which said receivingmeans comprises a keyway formed on said other control member and whereinsaid interlocking element has a key-portion adapted to be engaged withand disengaged from said keyway by movement of said interlocking elementon said one control member.

3. Interlocking means as claimed in claim 1, wherein said controlmembers are spaced apart transversely of the direction of adjustingmovement thereof and wherein said control members, said interlockingelement and said receiving means are so shaped that when saidinterlocking element is engaged with said receiving means, said controlmembers, said interlocking element and said receiving means aresubstantially contiguous in the direction transverse to the direction ofadjusting movement of said control members.

4. Control means as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control members andsaid interlocking element are of such shapes that when said interlockingelement is engaged with said receiving means, said control members andsaid interlocking element conform substantially with one another inexternal profile when viewed transversely of the direction of movementof said control members.

5. Interlocking means as claimed in claim 1, including a mountingelement upon which said interlocking element is movably carried andwhich is detachably secured to said one control member.

6. Interlocking means as claimed in claim 1, said interlocking elementbeing formed with an elongated opening, a guide pin being provided onsaid one control member and engaging in said opening and means beingprovided to retain said interlocking element in engagement on said guidepin, thereby, to guide said interlocking element for sliding movementrelatively to said one control member.

7. Interlocking means as claimed in claim 1, including co-operatingmeans on said interlocking element and on said one control member tolimit relative movement thereof.

8. Interlocking means as claimed in claim 1, including co-operatingmeans on said interlocking element and on said one control member tolimit relative movement therof, and said co-operating means comprise aprojection engaging in an elongated opening to guide said interlockingelement during movement between two limiting positions defined by saidopening.

9. Interlocking means as claimed in claim 1, including co-operatingmeans on said interlocking element and on said one control member tolimit relative movement thereof, and wherein said co-operating meanscomprises a projection and two communicating recesses, at least one ofsaid one control members and interlocking element being made ofresilient material and said projection being movable between andengageable in either of said recesses by virtue of the resilience ofsaid material.

10. Means for selectively interlocking two control arms which arearranged for pivoting movement about a common axis, comprising aninterlocking element mounted on one of said control arms for movementradially thereof and interlocking element receiving means on the otherof said control arms, said interlocking element being engageable withand disengageable from said receiving, means by radial movement, wherebysaid control arms can be pivoted either jointly in interlockedrelationship or independently.

11. Means for selectively interlocking two control members which aremounted for parallel rectilinear sliding movement, comprising aninterlocking element mounted on one of said control members for movementthereon in a direction perpendicular to a plane containing thedirections of sliding movement of said control inembers'and interlockingelement receiving means on the other of said control members, saidinterlocking element being engageable with and disengageable from saidreceiving means by movement on said last-mentioned control member,whereby said control members can be moved either jointly in interlockedrelationship or independently.

12. Means for selectively interlocking two control arms 6 which arearranged for pivoting movement about a common axis, comprising aninterlocking element mounted on one of said control arms for movementradially thereof and interlocking element receiving means onthe other ofsaid control arms, said interlocking element being engageable with anddisengageable from said receiving means by radial movement, whereby saidcontrol arms can be pivoted either jointly in interlocked relationshipor independently, said receiving means comprising a keyway formed toextend radially on said other control arm and tapering inwardly towardssaid common axis and wherein said interlocking element has a key-portionwhich is en gageable with said keyway by movement of said interlockingelement radially inwards and is disengageable F from said keyway bymovement of said interlocking element radially outwards on said onecontrol arm.

13. An assembly comprising two control members movable in side-by-siderelationship, a scale relative to which one of said control members ismovable, a pair of wing portions on said one control member projectingtherefrom in the direction towards said other control member andco-operating with said scale during movement of said one control memberrelatively thereto, said Wing portions diverging away from said scale tofacilitate reading thereof, and an interlocking element movably mountedon said other control member and projecting therefrom towards said onecontrol member so as to be engageable with and disengageable from saidwing portions, whereby said control members can be moved either jointlyin interlocked relationship'or independently.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,274,492 Zenker Aug. 6, 1918 2,276,724 Horowitz et al Mar. 17, 19422,277,645 Johnson Mar. 24, 1942 2,872,829 Belmont Feb. 10, 19592,878,332 Locher Mar. 17, 1959 2,935,892 Hodek May 10,1960 2,964,970Hiegel et a1 Dec. 20, 1960 3,041,433 Froland June 26, 1967

1. MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY INTERLOCKING TWO MOVABLE CONTROL MEMBERS WHICH ARE MOUNTED FOR SIDE-BY-SIDE ADJUSTING MOVEMENT, COMPRISING AN INTERLOCKING ELEMENT MOUNTED ON ONE OF SAID CONTROL MEMBERS FOR MOVEMENT THEREON IN A DIRECTION INTERSECTING THE DIRECTION OF ADJUSTING MOVEMENT THEREOF AND INTERLOCKING ELEMENT RECEIVING MEANS ON THE OTHER OF SAID CONTROL MEMBERS, SAID INTERLOCKING ELEMENT BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH AND DISENGAGEABLE FROM SAID RECEIVING MEANS BY MOVEMENT ON ONE OF SAID CONTROL MEMBERS, WHEREBY SAID CONTROL MEMBERS CAN BE MOVED EITHER JOINTLY IN INTERLOCKED RELATIONSHIP OR INDEPENDENTLY. 